Soccer Opens 2013 Campaign at Niagara, Canisius This Weekend
8/20/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State women's soccer team opens the program's 18th season when it visits Niagara and Canisius this weekend. The Penguins take on the Purple Eagles, Friday, Aug. 23, at 7 p.m. and the Golden Griffins, Sunday, Aug. 25, at 1 p.m.
About the Penguins
The Penguins are coming off the best season in school history, and with 17 letterwinners and eight starters returning from that 2012 squad, the expectations for 2013 are at an all-time high. Coupled with their fourth-place Horizon League finish, the Penguins have every reason to expect better results this season.
Last year, the Penguins recorded a school-record eight wins overall and three in Horizon League play to finish fourth in the league. The Penguins also hosted a first-round game of the Horizon League Championship for the first time in school history.
Offensively, YSU returns 74 percent of goals scored, 71 percent of assists, 75 percent of shots taken and 77 percent of shots-on-goal.
About Niagara
This is the ninth meeting between the Penguins and Purple Eagles in a series that dates back to 1999. Niagara has won the previous eight meetings, including a 2-1 overtime victory last year at Stambaugh Stadium.
About Canisius
This is the 13th meeting between Youngstown State and Canisius in a series that dates back to 1996. Canisius owns a 7-4-1 advantage in the all-time series, but the Penguins snapped a four-game winless streak with a 4-0 victory last season at Stambaugh Stadium.
Up Next
The Penguins play their first game at the program's new home venue - Farmers National Bank Field - against Toledo on Friday, Aug. 30, at 4 p.m.
Up Front
Seniors Allison Ludwig and Rachel Morrison and junior Chelsey Haney lead the Penguins' offensive attack up front.
Haney was an All-Horizon League and All-Newcomer Team selection last season after scoring a team-best five goals with three assists.
Ludwig, who ranks sixth all-time with 11 goals scored, was an All-Newcomer selection in 2010 after scoring eight goals.
Morrison also posted three goals and an assist last season.
In the Middle
Junior midfielder Cara Armstrong and sophomore Katie Hohmann lead a strong midfield core after combining for five goals last season. Armstrong scored three times with an assist while Hohmann added two goals and two assists.
Record-Holder
In the net, junior Jackie Podolsky returns at goalkeeper after setting school single-season goals-against average at 1.15. Podolsky, who also collected 45 saves and had a save percentage of .804, earned five victories last season, which are the second-most in a single season.
Penguins in the Preseason
The Penguins won both their exhibition games in 2013, a pair of 2-1 victories over Duquesne on Aug. 12 and Cal (Pa.) on Aug. 19.
Against the Dukes, sophomore Katie Hohmann and freshman Kathy Baquero each scored a goal while Jackie Podolsky collected five saves and did not allow a goal.
Junior Chelsey Haney and sophomore Karlee Kline scored for the Penguins in the win over Cal (Pa.).
